Anthony scores 29 as Nuggets complete sweep of Bucks

Feb 11, 2007 - 5:33 AM
MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- Carmelo Anthony continued to show his
appreciation for a second chance to play in the All-Star Game.

Anthony scored 29 points and collected 10 assists and Nene added
17 with 11 rebounds as the Denver Nuggets won for just the
third time in 10 games with a 106-102 triumph over the Milwaukee
Bucks.

The league's leading scorer, Anthony was named as an injury
replacement for the Western Conference All-Star roster Friday
and scored 34 points hours later as the Nuggets topped the
Indiana Pacers.

"I told my teammates we've got to have fun, put all the injuries
behind us and have fun," Anthony said. "That's what I've been
doing, having fun and not trying to put pressure on myself."

"The last couple of games, he (is) making his jump shots,"
Nuggets coach George Karl said. "He's closer to 50 percent
(shooting). I think making the All-Star Game has relaxed him a
little bit and I think he's enjoying the game a little more. He
can celebrate being an All-Star and being the horse of this
team."

After Denver took a 99-92 lead with 3:54 left in this one,
former Nugget Ruben Patterson made a layup and Brian Skinner
converted a three-point play with 2:53 to play as the Bucks cut
the deficit to 99-97.

Anthony followed with his own three-point play before another
former Nugget, Earl Boykins, nailed a 3-pointer with 2:01 to go
and another basket 40 seconds later to tie the score, 102-102.

However, Eduardo Najera hit a short jumper with 59 seconds
remaining and Nene and Steve Blake combined to make 5-of-6 free
throws down the stretch to seal the victory.

"What's happened the last couple weeks is defensively, we're
thinking we can make stops," Karl said. "Tonight, when we lost
the lead I don't think we were fearful of losing the game.
We've had a little bit of lack of confidence or fear take over.
It was a good win. Maybe we should ask for 82 on the road."

"All losses are deflating," Bucks coach Terry Stotts said. "I
don't think we come away from any loss feeling really good. You
look at the Detroit game, the Oklahoma City game and now
tonight ... all of those games were there to be had."

Milwaukee led, 67-64, late in the third quarter before Denver
closed the period on a 16-7 run. Anthony scored six consecutive
points and J.R. Smith drilled back-to-back 3-pointers to help
give Denver an 80-74 lead.

Anthony made 13-of-28 shots, Najera scored 15 points and Blake
had 10 and 11 assists for Denver, which has won eight of the
last nine encounters with the Bucks.

"I think we can focus a little more on the road," Anthony said
of Denver's 12-10 road mark. "When you're at home, you've got
your family and other distractions. I don't know what it is but
we always seem to play good on the road."

Denver again played without Allen Iverson, who did not travel
with the team because of a sprained right ankle. Marcus Camby
did not play for the second straight night with flu-like
symptoms.

Facing his former team for the first time since being traded to
Milwaukee on January 11, Boykins came off the bench to hit
10-of-15 shots and scored 26 points. Charlie Bell and Mo
Williams added 16 apiece for the Bucks.

"As an athlete, you can never be mentally beat down," Boykins
said after the Bucks lost for the 17th time in 20 games. "I
think you have to be mentally strong whether you win or lose.
It's your job to go out there and have confidence before you
step on the court."

"You know Earl was trying to kill us," Anthony said. "It was
fun, though, seeing him back out there and playing against him.
Deep down inside, he's probably mad or holds a little grudge."